CAF Champions League: Mazembe eliminated despite his victory over Raja

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

Disillusionment for the Almighty Mazembe, who beat Raja Casablanca on Saturday March 7 in the quarterfinal return of the CAF Champions League (1-0) but who is still eliminated from the competition, the Moroccans having won over a wider first leg (2-0). The Ravens management decided in the process to resign from their duties as coach Pamphile Mihayo Kazembe. Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca have validated their qualification.

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The last square of the CAF Champions League 2019-2020 is known. North Africa appears in force with two Egyptian clubs and two Moroccan clubs. Friday, March 6, Zamalek got the first ticket for the semi-finals despite his defeat on the field of the double title holder, Esperance of Tunis (1-0). The Egyptians' first leg win made the difference (3-1). Saturday, March 7, the other three posters back from the quarterfinals were played. And like the day before, visitors found their happiness away from home, despite defeats…

Al Ahly is doing well in South Africa

Before challenging the Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria, Al Ahly was quite calm. His victory in the first leg (3-1) gave him a definite advantage. Under the sun of South Africa, the visitors champions of Egypt were quickly put under pressure but could count on their goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy to hold the shock and finally found the fault when the unfortunate Lebohang Kgosana Maboe deviated in his own cage a free kick drawn by Ali Maaloul (21st).

The Mamelodi Sundowns reacted very quickly with the equalization signed by the Uruguayan Gaston Sirino, well placed to take point blank after a beautiful parade from the keeper of Al-Ahly. But no other goal was scored, thanks in particular to an El Shenawy still as sure. This draw (1-1) allows Al-Ahly to qualify.

Arrived.
Stayed humble.
Qualified 🔥🦅🔥 # YallaYaAhly #AfricaYaAhly #TotalCAFCL pic.twitter.com/KhM34EMVWh

TP Mazembe stings its crisis

An overwhelming victory for the Ravens. Beaten in the first leg by Raja Casablanca (2-0), the players of Almighty Mazembe knew they had to come out with a big game to reverse the situation in Lubumbashi. Half the way was made at the start of the second period when, after a few big opportunities in the first act, the Congolese broke through the Moroccan wall thanks to the very young Isaac Tshibangu, only 16 years and 9 months old but lethal in the surface (50th) . There was only one goal left to bring the two teams tied for the entire match.

But this longed-for goal never came, despite clear domination (66% possession and 22 shots on goal, including 10 on target at the end of the match). Raja got cold sweats when goalkeeper Anas Zniti slipped Jackson Muleka into the box and conceded a logical penalty. The last Moroccan rampart was redeemed by pushing back with the tip of the foot the full axis shot of Muleka, who wanted to do justice himself and therefore failed (70th). The Almighty Mazembe wins only 1-0, an insufficient result to avoid elimination. A few hours later, after an emergency meeting of the club's management, Pamphile Mihayo Kazembe was replaced as coach by Drazen Cvetkovic.

Wydad resists the Etoile du Sahel

The Etoile du Sahel was in the same configuration as the Almighty Mazembe. Beaten in the first leg by Wydad Casablanca (2-0), the Tunisians had to score twice to at least hope to snatch extra time. Faced with the vice-champion of Africa, in Radès, the ESS experienced the same disappointment as the Ravens of Mazembe, namely a useless victory (1-0).

In the second half, Karim Aribi gave hope to his team and his public by taking advantage of poor control by Brahim Nakach to open the scoring (58th). The entry into play of Darwin Gonzalez, Souleymane Coulibaly and Alaya Brigui, however, did not allow the Etoile du Sahel to seek the second long-awaited goal. After Raja, the other big Casablanca club, Wydad, qualified for the semi-finals despite this defeat.

الفرحة بتحقيق الأهم و التأهل للنصف 🔴⚪
Celebration of qualification for the semi-final 👐 # DimaWydad pic.twitter.com/MAPNTJSUTy

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